Cape Town to provide free Wi-Fi in public buildings

Dozens of public buildings in disadvantaged areas of Cape Town will have free wi-fi installed between December and the end of June next year, according to the city's mayor Patricia de Lille.

In addition to installing the wireless service in buildings such as libraries, the city will provide external wi-fi hotspots at clinics, traffic departments, fire stations and public offices in suburbs such as Langa, Nyanga, Uitsig, Valhalla Park, Athlone and Atlantis.

Cape Town and several commercial service providers, including French-based giant Orange, are also planning to roll out wi-fi to sections of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain districts.

De Lille says the digital project is included in Cape Town's R1.3-billion seven-year broadband network plan as part of its aim to become “the first truly digital city in Africa."

Separately, Cape Town's MyCiTi bus service could soon be offering passengers free Wi-Fi. Currently it is conducting a pilot project which would allow passengers to access free wi-fi while travelling or waiting at various stations across Cape Town.

Also the South African National Taxi Council plans to roll out a free wi-fi programme for commuters over the next three years. The project would involve an estimated 1,500 taxis and 50 taxi ranks in Cape Town.